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2019 NBA free agency: 5 potential landing spots for Patrick Beverley

By Simon Smith

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Clippers before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Clippers before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 17, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Legitimately the heart and soul of the team, leaving the Clippers would be an extremely difficult decision for Beverley. However ultimately, this decision may be taken out of his hands.

With a first class front office led by Lawrence Frank and special advisor Jerry West, the Clippers have made number of stealth moves over the past couple of seasons, and thus found themselves with over $54 million in salary cap space to spend this summer.

Heavily linked to NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are also in the chase for other leading free agents such as Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and KEvin Durant. With that in mind, extending Beverley on a three-year, $40 million plus deal likely doesn’t fit in their overall thinking unless they strike out.

https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1125898845269790720

Furthermore, the emergence last season of rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander means the loss of Beverley would not be as harsh as many think. Despite this, the manner in which Pat Bev performed in the Clippers’ first-round playoff loss to the Golden State Warriors illustrated just why he is such a valued commodity on the open market.

While Beverley would ultimately love to extend his stay with the team, the fact that the Clippers extended reigning back-to-back Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams to a three-year, $24 million deal last season should indicate that Beverley couldn’t be expecting much more in terms of compensation.